Police fail to arrest Sulu lawmaker

SULU – Police have failed to arrest Sulu Rep. Munir Arbison, who is accused of 17 counts of arson in the southern Muslim province.

Arbison, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, backed out from filing his certificate of candidacy after members of the Criminal Investigation and

Detection Group allegedly waited for him at the office of the Commission on Elections in Jolo town.

The lawmaker, who is seeking re-election in next year’s polls, strongly denied all the charges against him and said the criminal cases filed against him in court were 20 years old. Arbison said he had nothing to do with the cases and branded it as mere fabrication, adding, some of those who filed charges against him were either deceased or had gone to Malaysia.

It was unclear why Arbison had to evade the policemen waiting to arrest him since he denied allegations against him, but he branded the attempt as a political harassment. Arbison, a former political ally of former senator Mar Roxas who lost to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in the presidential elections in 2016, is seeking reelection.

There was no immediate statement from the police on Arbison’s accusation of harassment.